Legislation aimed at giving New Jersey residents priority access to mobile sport fishing vehicle permits has passed the state Senate. The bill, S-4775, is sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., with co-prime sponsorship from Senator Shirley Turner. Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre introduced a companion bill in the Assembly, A-6229, which has bipartisan support.
The proposed law would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set an initial 14-day period during which only New Jersey residents could purchase these permits. This legislative effort comes as a response to recent policy changes at Island Beach State Park that affected how permits are distributed.
In a joint statement after the Senate vote, Amato, Rumpf, and Myhre said: “The intent of this legislation is simple: to give New Jersey residents the first opportunity to obtain mobile fishing permits. Changes to the application process, including the implementation of a lottery system, caused significant concern among constituents who for years obtained permits without issue and enjoyed long summers at Island Beach State Park.
“From the outset, our Delegation has advised the DEP of the persistent objections raised by residents. While we understand there is high demand for these permits, that reality only strengthens the case that New Jersey residents should be given first preference.
“We are pleased that the Legislature has addressed this issue in a bipartisan manner. Without improvements to the permit application process, more New Jersey residents will grow increasingly frustrated with State parks and other State-administered areas that are largely funded by their tax dollars.”
Assemblyman Rumpf previously sponsored legislation in 2020 exempting disabled veterans from fees for beach buggy permits; that measure passed unanimously with bipartisan support.
With Senate approval secured, S-4775 now moves to the Assembly for further consideration by its Children, Families and Food Security Committee.
